Iowa primary early voting guide: Where, when, how to vote in Johnson County

The primaries for the 2018 election cycle are on June 5 in Iowa, but early voting opportunities in the area start Monday.

This year, Johnson County residents will have the opportunity to vote in primaries for the gubernatorial, U.S. House, state Senate, and board of supervisors races. Early voting and absentee ballot voting begins May 7 at the Johnson County Auditor's Office, 913 S. Dubuque St. in Iowa City.

What about Iowa's voter ID law?

This is the first primary election cycle with the state's new voter ID law. Last year, Republican Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law a new requirement that all voters bring their state-issued ID or voter ID card with them to the polls.

Early voters do not have to present their ID, but they will be required to write their Iowa driver's license number, non-driver ID number or voter ID card number on the request form when they arrive.

On June 5, voters will be required to present state ID or sign the oath of identification — which is only an option this first year under the new law. Valid forms of ID are an Iowa driver's license, an Iowa non-operators’ ID, a military ID, a veterans ID, passport or a state-issued voter ID card.

Voter ID cards were sent to registered voters who do not have a state-issued ID. If you did not receive a card and do not have a state-issued ID, contact the county auditor's office at 319-356-6004 between 7:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

If you need an absentee ballot:

Absentee ballots can be requested by mail or in person by 5 p.m. May 25 via a form from the county auditor's office, and should be hand delivered or mailed to Johnson County Auditor, 913 S. Dubuque St. Suite 101, Iowa City, IA 52240.

When returning the absentee ballot, it must be postmarked by June 4 and received in the county auditor's office no later than June 11. If you have not returned your absentee ballot by election day, you can deliver it to the county auditor's office before the polls close on June 5 or you can surrender it at your polling place and vote in person.

Do I have to choose a party to vote in the primary?

Voters must register for a party — Democrat, Republican or Libertarian — to vote in the primary election and can change their party at any time, including election day. Voters can only participate in one party's primary.

This election marks the first time for a Libertarian primary in Iowa. Iowa Libertarians won major-party status in Iowa after Gary Johnson captured 3 percent of the vote in 2016 presidential election, a distinction affording their candidates a spot on the primary ballot. Johnson County voters in the Libertarian primary will see two candidates for governor and one for the Senate District 37 seat.